Why Italy ought to be okay*

By The Economist online

Italy is in a better position to manage its debt than several other big countries

FEARS over the safety of Italy's government debt would take the euro-zone crisis to a new phase: for its members a choice between breaking up the project and sanctioning big transfers from healthy economies to struggling ones; for banks a question of how to manage exposure to the world's third-largest bond market. When Italian spreads over German bunds ballooned at the end of last week and kept moving in the same direction on July 11th and the morning of July 12th, it looked like that moment of panic had arrived. Markets have since calmed down a little and rightly so, according to this chart, which ranks countries by their debt burdens. But until markets get a clear signal from European governments that they are willing to do whatever it takes to stand behind the euro, the gyrations will continue.

*probably. The Daily chart should not be read as investment advice. Bond spreads can go up, down, sideways or even resemble a bowl of spaghetti.